Title: Killing Time in Wall Market
Fandoms: Final Fantasy VII
Rating: NSFW
Length: 817 words
Characters: Aerith Gainsborough, Cloud Strife
Pairing: Aerith x Cloud
Notes: Not smut, sex-worker Aeris.
Summary: Cloud takes Aeris to a love hotel in Wall Market.


The day took a surprising turn when Cloud lead her into the love hotel in Wall Market. What had the guy in the materia store whispered to Cloud as he asked her to give them a moment? Had he unmasked her? Allowed Cloud to see what her disguise - conservatively dressed flower girl - hid about her? Not that she was entirely conseratively dressed, but at first glance- Maybe the guy had. Maybe he had seen her on other occasions. If so, Cloud was being open-minded about it all. No questions, no judgement, no questions that were disguised condemnations of her every decision up to and including the moment. He could just be innocent; her offer of a date back in the church seemed to register only in its most absolute basic sense. Something like an old-fashioned milkshake and dancing kind of thing. In any case she still owed him for getting her aware from the Turks - and would have if he had no insisted on sneaking out of the house in the early hours of the morning.

Circumstances seemed to offer her another chance; they had wound up in Wall Market. It, like this love hotel, was very familiar. How best to proceed? Drop any pretence of her assumed profession or watch for his reaction. As ways to pass the time coming here was as good as any choice. To some it might seem odd that after spending hours assembling a disguise to get Cloud inside Don Corneo's mansion to rescue Tifa, he decided on visiting a love hotel. True; he hade denied Tifa was anything more than a friend when she asked point blank. And yet that somehow did not square with the effort and sacrifices he was making. There had to be somethign more there. Thus his fleeing in the early hours made sense; far too faithful to let temptation get the better of him.

Aeris could have stayed home after he left. Gotten ready for the day. Instead, she wanted to see more or him. A glimpse of her apparent rival sent her running into Wall Market. The girl must really be something to induce such devotion in Cloud. And yet; they were here, in a room that rented by the hour. The thin walls blocked little of the moans and groans from other occupied rooms. Cloud was already flushed by the time they made it to the rented room. One hour. Enough time for the dress maker to finish. Enough time for something else too. This would at least make things even.

Many would balk at sleeping with someone else even as they planned to rescue their partner. But who was Aeris to judge? So many of her clients felt the need to justify why they sought her out and asked for that one particular flower indicating what they wanted. It mattered nothing to here about home lives or families - and everyone was earnest and faithful. Just- A tough day, a communication breakdown, long-harboured resentments, a cheating partner- Everyone had a justification for coming to her. She smiled and nodded, said the right things and did just what they paid her to the best of her now practiced abilities.

Cloud perched on the edge of the bed, body still tense, his gaze flicking around the room. He spotted the vending machine and fumbled in his pockets. Concientious as well though he needn't of worried; Aeris always carried contraception. She laid her staff to one side, undid her dress and called his name. Cloud's mouth fell open, coins dropping unnoticed to the floor. The lingerie had been the right call, as much as it was now bordering on uncomfortable. Chosen for effect this morning rather than for going out. Still; she smiled her best smile and knelt beside the bed, fingers undoing his pants.

--

After. Cloud watched her dress with a goofy smile. She had to chide him to get dressed too so they could make it back in time. And as if a switch had been flipped, Cloud's thoughts were all of Tifa again. Unusual. He even paused to study the vending machine for a long moment and again fumbled in his pockets for change. The man in the materia shop asked him to retrieve something from the machine, Cloud explained. He was curious. Aeris almost spoke up then. Had it all been a misunderstanding? Cloud's fast reactions; had he never slept with anyone before?

A torrent of questions and no time now. To find answers about this mystery of a man - a man now eager to get to the dress shop - she would need to stick with him. And still there was that open mind. No judgement for her actions - and she had none for him. His earlier encouragement for her to go home seemed forgotten. Together they headed for the dress shop and their way inside Don Coreno's mansion.